too big?

[sweet]

i fed my boa tonight a full size mouse and it may have been too big for him. does this pic seem like his belly is distented too much? I am going on vacation and wanted him weel fed before I left. http://members.cox.net/wabbe/fat%20belly.jpg

[Jeff_Favelle]

No, the meal is fine. The only thing that might be too big is that cage for that boa.

[sweet]

I will be gone for about a week, I really dont want to have the heat lamp come on while Im gone because of possible fire hazzard(on timer). Do you think the heat tape under the tank will be ok? hes in a basement where it stays about 72 degrees.

[LINEBACKER 2]

I wouldn't worry. I just fed my 8 foot boa a 4 pound rabbit and she had a hard time taking it down, but she did take it and she's sitting nice and fat because of it.

Personally I think a boa in the wild wouldn't sit there and select prey based on their size. That's impossible.

Steve

[sweet]

do you feed it once a month?

[Jeff_Favelle]

Do you think the heat tape under the tank will be ok? hes in a basement where it stays about 72 degrees.

I honestly don't understand how you can expect anyone here to predict what your cage temperatures would be with or without a bulb on in your cage. That's beyond me.

The temperature range in which a boa requires existence is WELL documented. It doesn't matter if you're going away for 5 minutes, 5 days, or 5 weeks, its your JOB as owner and proprietor of that snake to provide it with those very temperatures.

[sweet]

i just had a guy tell me that if it was a little low the snake would go into a hibernate state and didnt know if that was true.

[BoidKeeper]

No, it's not. If the temps get too low he'll puke up his meal and if left low long enough he'll get a resporatory infection.
Step 1, Get a proper temperature measuring tool. Those stick ones ones are garbage. Try a digital thermometer with a remote probe. Place the probe inside the tank directly on the hot spot where the snake would lay.
Step 2. If you need a heat lamp to help keep up your ambiant air temp use a black light or a heat lamp, something with heat not light so it can be left on 24hrs a day.
Step 3. Measure your temps and adjust accordingly.
Step 4. Get a copy of the Boa Constrictor Manual and read it cover to cover. Some of these question you should know the answers to before taking the snake home, not trying to find out after the fact. While you learn how to set up for your snake your snake has to suffer through your learning curve. You will get there but while you do the snake is not being kept ideally.
Cheers,
Trevor

[sweet]

thanks for the info, i dont think he has suffered any yet, but i wanted to make sure hes ok while im gone, maybe i will go get one of those ceramic heaters i can leave on all the time

[sweet]

i fixed the problem, I went and got a piece of plexiglass and cut it a little short to allow air in . It really helps bring the temp up and the humidity. I dont think I will need the heat lamp anymore, it seems to dry out the tank anyways. as owner and proprietor of my snake i feel I have taken responsibility now.

[ChokeOnSmoke]

and if you want the heat lamp on in the day you can buy a timer for about 5 bucks

[LoneStar]

:WERD: !!


Originally posted by Jeff_Favelle
I honestly don't understand how you can expect anyone here to predict what your cage temperatures would be with or without a bulb on in your cage. That's beyond me.
The temperature range in which a boa requires existence is WELL documented. It doesn't matter if you're going away for 5 minutes, 5 days, or 5 weeks, its your JOB as owner and proprietor of that snake to provide it with those very temperatures.